<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                         2,641,683<F1>
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                           0
<MORTGAGE>                                      28,549
<REAL-ESTATE>                                    1,284
<TOTAL-INVEST>                               2,793,466
<CASH>                                          11,465
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                   0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                          91,767
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,298,334
<POLICY-LOSSES>                              2,118,785<F2>
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                            167,132
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                          123,300
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                144,618
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                            59
<OTHER-SE>                                     486,024
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 4,298,334
<PREMIUMS>                                     284,558
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                             96,677
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                               9,352
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<BENEFITS>                                     204,745
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                     23,134
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                            53,627
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 52,709
<INCOME-TAX>                                    14,602
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             38,107
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    38,107
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.87
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.86
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0
<FN>
<F1>REFER TO NOTE 3 - INVESTMENTS OF THE COMPANY'S CONSOLIDATED NOTES TO FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS FOR JUNE 30, 1998.
<F2>REFER TO THE COMPANY'S CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS OF JUNE 30, 1998.
</FN>